Juan Mata to wear No 8 shirt and relishes chance to join Wayne Rooney at Manchester United

Manchester United's record £37.1 million signing Juan Mata talks about Wayne
Rooney, turning down the No 7 shirt and arriving at the club in a helicopter

Juan Mata says he cannot wait to play alongside Wayne Rooney for Manchester Unitedand push for the Champions League. United’s £37.1 million new signing operates best in a similar position to Rooney, playing off the main striker, but believes they will dovetail well.

“I can’t wait to play with him at Old Trafford,’’ said Mata, talking before training at Carrington on Monday. “For me, he is one of the best players in England. He is unbelievable; he can score, he can assist and he can take the ball in midfield. I will enjoy playing alongside him a lot. I will try to connect with him as much as I can. I will try to find the gaps between midfield and defence because that is something I was used to doing last season. That is the best position for me to play; to try to assist the strikers.’’

Mata believes United’s resilience will hope them hunt down a Champions League position. They are currently six points behind fourth-placed Liverpool (who have a vastly superior goal difference). “What I like most about this club is the character,’’ said Mata of United. “If another club was in this (seventh) position in the league it would be very, very difficult for them to come back and to take first position. This club can do it, always can do it. This club can fight to the end, always together to the end, with character, with fighting on the pitch. This is the real image I have of Manchester United: always trying to win titles, always fighting for every title, and always coming back from difficult moments.

“This season they had some unlucky moments that they didn’t deserve.

It is very important for us and for the club that we finish in a position that enables us to play in the Champions League next season. It is what this club deserves because it has always played in the Champions League.

“I like pressure. It’s good when people are expecting big things from you. I am looking forward to try and make all these amazing fans happy. Everything is going to be fine, with the squad we have, with the players who will come in the summer. This club will be successful for sure.’’

David Moyes was “thrilled” at landing the World Cup-winner. “I got wind of it a month or two ago that it could be a possibility,’’ said the United manager. “I never really believed we would pull it off. I didn’t think we would get much done in January but when we got the sniff that Juan could be available we went after it straight away. So congratulations to the club and Ed Woodward for getting the deal done. I have always said we will be making changes and Juan’s the first. There will be more players like Juan in the future.’’

Mata was not in Jose Mourinho’s first-team plans at Chelsea, particularly not with the form of Oscar in the No 10 role, so the two-time club player of the season found himself on the bench. “The first two seasons in Chelsea for me were amazing,’’ said Mata. “I settled down so quickly, the fans were unbelievable, the club too. The last six months were difficult because I didn’t play as much as I wanted but I respect that. Jose is a very big, very good manager. The squad is unbelievable, they have top, top players, one of the best squads in the Premier League. I respect my team-mates. I tried my best in training and in every game with the minutes that I had but when Manchester United came it was a great option for me.

"It was a good lesson for me not to play at Chelsea, it helped me learn more about football, it helped me to become stronger and deal with life. The move is perfect for me, for Chelsea and for Manchester United and is good for me personally. Sometimes in your career you need to clear your mind and to take a chance. This was a massive chance for me to carry on with my career in England, in the Premier League which is a very, very good place for me. I feel really happy in this country.

“I just wanted to go to a place where I feel happy. I am now. Manchester United is a massive club. In England it is a club with most fans around the world, so it is a big challenge for me to be here, it is a big step. Manchester United in the history of the Premier League is the team who has won the most trophies.’’

An inside perspective was given by his friend and compatriot David De Gea. “He was texting me the last week, all the days,’’ said Mata. “He texted me things that I knew. He told me the fans are unbelievable, no matter whether you are a in a good or bad moment they are always behind you, supporting you. He told me that the guys in the squad were really nice. All the team-mates have been very good for me in the welcome. He told me the club are massive, that the fans around the world are unbelievable, that the manager is very good. All he said was good. Now I realise he was right.

“The welcome from the managers, players and fans on social media has been unbelievable. I am really grateful. I want to play, try my best for the team and to give this confidence back. I feel very happy to play in a massive club like this. I am really happy and looking forward to win as many trophies with this club. It will be a great, great period for me. It is time for me to enjoy football, to show the football I have inside me that I showed the last two seasons in London.’’

Mata acknowledged the importance of the national team in his thinking. “The World Cup was really important. In the Spanish squad it is really difficult to get in; a lot of players are fighting to be in the last 23, going to Brazil. I hope it is going to be a great chance for me as well, to keep playing, to be fit, and to keep showing the manager of the national team that I want to be there and that I have to be there.’’

He talked of United’s “history” and his understanding of the significance of the No 7 shirt, the shirt of Eric Cantona and David Beckham, which he turned down in favour of Anderson’s old top. “No 8 is a great number. I like the number. I know No 7 is an iconic number here. I was speaking with David [De Gea] about it. No 8 is a good number for me and hopefully will bring me good luck here.’’

Mata also spoke of his delight at his means of arrival. “What I like most about Manchester United is that they brought me here by helicopter! Not many clubs would have done that!’’